Honorable Jackie Lacey Received Brotherhood Award & Business Leader Marx Cazenave was Keynote Speaker

On January 16 YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles today hosted its 44th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Brotherhood Breakfast at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. The non-profit organization honored Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey with the Brotherhood Award for her exemplary leadership in LA’s criminal justice system and continuous dedication to protecting and serving the community.

Lacey was joined onstage by the ceremony’s Keynote Speaker Marx Cazenave, Co-Founder and Former CEO of Progress Investment Management Company. Addressing 600 guests, Cazenave delivered a compelling speech about his life journey and learning the importance of persistence, humility and service.

The LA Y’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Brotherhood Breakfast commemorates Dr. King’s legacy and celebrates his vision of a just and inclusive world for all. Prominent LA business, civic and community leaders gather each year to pay tribute to individuals, selected by the Y, who uphold Dr. King’s values of equality, social justice and community service.

“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday is the perfect time to salute Jackie Lacey for her extraordinary leadership in our community,” says Alan Hostrup, YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles President and CEO. “Ms. Lacey’s personal conviction for fairness and equality has led to her impressive professional accomplishments, and we cannot be more thrilled to honor her with our Brotherhood Award. She encompasses everything Dr. King stood for and is a wonderful role model for our youth.”

Lacey’s notable career includes successfully prosecuting LA County’s first race-based hate crime murder, which earned her national recognition. She went on to become the 42nd District Attorney in 2012, making her the first woman and first African-American to serve as Los Angeles County District Attorney since the office was established in 1850. A true pioneer, Lacey’s work has focused on protecting public safety, addressing jail overcrowding, targeting high-tech criminals, safeguarding seniors from financial abuse, etc. Her many achievements include the creation of sentencing courts for nonviolent offenders as well as leading the formation of LA County’s Criminal Justice Mental Health Project. In addition, Lacey dedicated years to educating students at a Boyle Heights elementary school about the criminal justice system – an act which mirrors the Y’s work to educate and nurture our community’s youth.

“My favorite part of the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech is where Dr. King says ‘I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character’,” said Jackie Lacey upon accepting her Brotherhood Award. “We have come a long way, and must continue working together to ensure a brighter future for our children.”

The LA Y’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Brotherhood Breakfast celebrates and perpetuates the ideal that lasting social change can only be achieved once everyone works together. Dr. King was a member of the Butler Street YMCA in Atlanta, Georgia, and in his honor, this special event gathers LA’s top leaders to help re- energize their commitment to build a stronger and greater city.

ABOUT YMCA OF METROPOLITAN LOS ANGELES

YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles (LA Y) is a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening communities by supporting youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Welcoming individuals of all ages, faiths and backgrounds, the Y is committed to nurturing everyone’s potential in spirit, mind and body. No one is turned away membership due to the inability to pay. Serving Los Angeles since 1882, the LA Y is comprised of 26 branches and three resident camps that stretch across 100 miles of Los Angeles County. Through unique programs and services, YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles provides more than a quarter million families each year with the tools and encouragement to learn, grow and thrive. For more information, visit www.ymcala.org.